filled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."""To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Herein consists the distinguishing unerring rule, by which we may judge of ourselves, whether we are in the faith once delivered to the saints; and I believe it would be productive of essential good to every gathered body of professing Christians, if every individual member would turn his attention to the teachings of the Spirit in himself, and be led by it, "for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, the same are his children." I long to see this more conspicuous amongst us. How would it display the glory through believers, and convey the inviting language of, Come, "y have fellowship with us, for truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with the Son." This is the pattern of primitive Christianity; and I long to see it revived, that it may shine again in its own beauty.

"Zion is called upon, again to shake herself from the dust of the earth, and to put on her beautiful garments; that the nations afar off may come to the brightness of her arising, to behold. that a greater than Solomon reigns amongst us. Consider these things, ye leaders of the people, and be assured, that it concerns every one of you, in a particular manner, to light the candle, and sweep

a

the house, and search diligently for the lost peice of silver. For, most assuredly, something is wanting to complete the sum of truth amongst you; and it will be an unavailing attempt, to make up the deficiency with counterfeit coin. No! it must all have the true stamp and superscription of"Holiness to the Lord;" even the bells on the horses are to have the inscription of "HOLINESS,' even every thing that worketh or soundeth in the Lord's church.

Now, I beseech all of you, of every name and profession, to hearken, and "hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Be well assured, that there is need for you all, both pastors and flocks, to "take heed how ye hear." "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." How is this, my brethren? I have had a little acquaintance with most of your professions; and have learned from words made use of amongst you, that most of you confess the influence of the Spirit to be needful in your preaching the gospel, in order to its being rendered effectual to the converting of souls; and again, in your prayers, you ask for the gift of the Spirit. But it is needful for you all to be careful, that you do not ask amiss; and, in order to avoid asking amiss, the very spring from which the cause of asking arose, must be looked into; and, if there is any other source found than the glory of the Lord, with an earnestness to know his will,

and a desire to do it, the heart is not right towards God. It is of no avail to desire to deck ourselves with his ornaments, and then to play the harlot, and glory in the flesh, seeing "the Lord will stain the glory of all flesh." And therefore let us look well to our movements: our dear Lord and Saviour hath left us an example, of the manner in which the Holy Spirit is to be applied for, and of the willingness of his heavenly Father to give it to such as should so ask, as a son asking bread or a fish of his natural father. Now nature teacheth us to know, that when bread or fish is asked for, there is a sense felt in the asker, that he wants something to support, strengthen, and nourish the natural life; and the comparison implies, that nothing short of the Holy Spirit can sustain the soul in the life of truth, and nourish it up unto eternal life.

Hence, however whole any one body of professed Christians may think themselves to be in the doctrines of Christianity, it will not be amiss for them to trace their whole building from top to bottom: for it is not enough to begin in the Spirit, and afterwards aim at being made perfect in the flesh. Most confess the teachings of the Spirit, and yet each party apprehends that his own profession comes the nearest, in form and doctrine, to the church "built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the

chief corner-stone." With respect to the chief corner-stone, most professors agree; but when they come to build, there seems a great diversity of opinion how to build thereon; and so the work goes on but slowly. What one builds up, another pulls down, and sets about building it in another form, almost venturing to pass sentence of death on the first builder. Another, no better satisfied with the new performance, pulls down this too; but, believing that Christ, "by the grace of God, tasted death for every man," he dares not pass sentence on the builder who preceded him. And here, I think, the advantage must appear to be on his side, who equally attributes the salvation of the soul to the grace of God as the other, and yet leaves all who miss of it with

out excuse.

My dear brethren, my object is not to argue on these great points, but to negotiate peace between you. Since it is from these that the great source of division has arisen, I am solicitous that this may cease, and that no more strife and contention may be sown thereon, from your pulpits, or from the press. For I am fully persuaded, that the fruit thereof is no strength to the soul, but tendeth to puff up one against another, and to hinder the sweet communications of love from circulating from vessel to vessel. I entreat you, therefore, to look close at home; and to re

f Heb. ii. 9.

member, that it is not by power nor by might," that the church must be built, "but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." This was what strengthened Zerubbabel; and this must be our strength, or our building will not stand. And, as the Spirit of the Lord strengthened him to lay the first stone, and also to finish the building, even so now, the Lord hath laid the foundation of his spiritual church in Christ, and it must be by the drawings of his Spirit that we are enabled to come unto him. ❝h No man," said Christ, 66 can come unto me, except my Father draw him;" and when Peter confessed him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, he blessed him, and said, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

Herein then lies the first moving cause of true Christianity, namely, the revelation of the Spirit, leading the mind to confess the Son, and drawing it to partake of the healing virtue from him. This was what Paul witnessed, as himself testified, saying, "When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me, I conferred not with flesh and blood." Let us all, therefore, my beloved brethren, be in earnest to remove the great obstacles to a Christian union, and examine ourselves, whether we are really come in at the right door into the sheep-fold, 'seeing that all who climb up another